Selig, McLane share blame for Astros’ embarrassment

I made it through Ike fine in case you were wondering. I lost two trees that I didn’t like much anyway. I lost a fence that never did anything for me. I lost a corner of my roof that I have no intention of repairing.

I had three cases of Schlitz on ice and a carton of Hostess Cup Cakes, and once my cajun buddy Tommy showed up with a possum stew, I could have lasted until the election.

There’s nothing like sitting around the dark reconnecting with a 16-year-old daughter. We discussed our dreams and disappointments, and since that lasted all of five minutes, we went for a walk in knee-deep water and wondered why the neighbors couldn’t wait a month or two to begin cleaning up the tree limbs.

I don’t get these people. I once left a broken-down Impala and a boat trailer with two flat tires in my front yard six miles from the White House, and no one said a word. I miss the good old days.

That’s when I knew I had to get out of town. I was up early Sunday, drove to Dallas, flew to Chicago and drove to Milwaukee, arriving at Miller Park fashionally late.

I’m not saying when I arrived, but I will say the brats had all been eaten. That just means double brats on Monday.

I suggested that a Chicago friend pick me up at the airport and we could make the drive to Milwaukee together. I’d spring for a sandwich at the Mars Cheese Castle, but he never called back.

Now to be serious for a moment. This game never should have been played at this location. No way. No how.

I don’t want to hear how it was the only available venue. Bull. If this is the best MLB could do, they should have called the whole thing off.

Bud Selig and Drayton McLane ought to be embarrassed to have asked a team in a pennant race, a team that has done amazing things, to fly all this way and play in front of 23,441 fans, virtually all of them cheering for the other team.

Some of you will blame Bud Selig. I’m OK with that. He never, ever should have approved Miller Park.

One guy wrote and said this decision proves Bud is trying to give the Brewers an unfair advantage. Look, I think the decision was dumb, but saying it’s about Selig and the Brewers is even dumber than the decision.

If I’m blaming one person, I’m starting with Drayton McLane. He was desperate to get those three home games against the Cubs and refused to believe the weather reports.

He could have postponed the series Wednesday and still had time to move it to a real neutral site.

Now the Phillies, Astros and Brewers are bunched together, a game in the loss column apart. After all the fighting and clawing the Astros finally have a legitimate chance to do something we’ll all remember forever.

103 Responses

I know it’s impractical, but here what should have happened: This series should have been played in Round Rock, TX at the Dell Diamond. The owners of both teams should have payed for the stands to be filled with refugees stuck in evacuation centers in Austin.

Drayton and the MLB had a chance to do something that was not only fair, but heroic and they passed on it.

Ryan...stuck in cardinals country (wishing he could watch just one Astros game on TV)says:

RJ, you have never been more right about this! How in the world does this happen? Are you honestly telling me that they couldn’t have found a stadium somewhere that could have held this game? They could have played a double-header in Arlington! The Rangers were in Oakland! Not that they should have been playing at all, mind you! How in the world do you ask a team, who’s mind is no where close to baseball, their families and homes tattered in the wake of this storm, to go out and play? This was a bad decision by a horrible commissioner and a clueless owner…

Agree totally. I was shocked when I heard the team had to travel Sunday for a Sunday night game. And to Milwaukee no less. Why didn’t we just have the series in Chicago? That would have been about as fair. And to make these guys travel that far, after what they had just been through, was atrocious. Why does the series have to be played in a domed stadium? Were there no other available ballparks in the southwest where rain wasn’t in the forecast? I don’t think this has to do with giving the Brewers an advantage (nothing can help them now-they’re toast). But, hopefully Uncle Drayton sees where all that obedience to the Commissioner has gotten him.

Also, kudos to Zambrano for the no hitter, but the way he went about it showed no class. He was fist pumping and jumping and strutting by the 7th inning. With the circumstances of that game, it was like he was getting excited about beating up a disabled person. I didn’t think he had anything special going on his pitches. He was just pitching to a bunch of guys in a daze. That was one that should go with an asterisk next to it in the record books.

Here’s hoping the Astros can get their mojo back and take it to those guys in the postseason.

Glad you are okay – hope all of the other bloggers in Ike’s path escaped with little or no damage as well. Ike uprooted trees and caused power outages where I live last night, and I’m over 1500 miles away in upstate NY! The pictures from Galveston and nearby areas is horrific, and I hope those affected in any way are able to get back to normal quickly.

As for our pal Bud…thanks for giving your Milwaukee town a payday at our expense by putting OUR home games in Cubland. Would it have been so horrible to schedule the games on the 29th and 30th where they belong? After what the area has been through, don’t the residents and regular ticket holders deserve that? A day-night doubleheader on Monday with a Tuesday finale if necessary?

If you really needed to preserve the sanctity of the season ending on the 28th, you could at least find a “neutral” ballpark. You played games in Japan and counted them, so you can’t tell me that a quality college faclity wasn’t available. Hell, even Busch Stadium would have at leat had people rooting against the Cubs.

A tip of the cap to Carlos Zambrano for a masterful game, regardless of the circumstances. Now let’s shake it off and get back to business.

I’m so pissed, I could spit. Anyone with half a brain heard the enormous crowd reaction for the Cubs last night. Neutral? Hardly.

The whole Selig-Brewers conspiracy is crap – Selig’s not such an idiot to do something so transparent. But I agree, McLane should have fought harder for his team. Once again, McLane shows why he’s only allowed to visit his cajones a few times a year, because they’re in a jar in Selig’s office.

I was truly dumbfounded by the rescheduling decision ever since I read about it last week, mouth agape. I’d like to think that McLane made this decision based on something else besides pure idiocy… or greed… but I can’t think of a single thing.

Let’s hope the Astros on the field can refocus the frustration and anger into some more wins and continue this miracle run. I have a feeling that they will soon be chasing the Phillies rather than the Brewers.

I was really disappointed in this whole thing. Not only is it a poor decision by MLB and the Astros front office, think about what our guys had to go through in this fiasco! Leaving their hurricane stricken city behind to rush to Miller Park and play at Wrigley North. Then get beat like this by a guy that has always played us well… it wasn’t much of a surprise when I heard the news, I actually laughed to myself. An incredulous laugh.

If The Stros miss out on the ward card by one game is it fair to look back at this game and lay some serious blame on everyone involved with this joke of a decision??

Here’s a thought. Why not Round Rock? Granted it won’t hold 25K but they were all cheering for Chicago anyway. I’d rather have somewhat of a home field advantage and play before 14-15K that were ASTROS fans instead of Milwaukee.

I can hardly believe that McLane or Selig thought this was a good idea. The game was a “home” game for the Cubs for two reasons: 1) Milwaukee is a two-hour drive from Chicago, so of course Cubs fans will make the trip; and 2) any “neutral” fans left in Milwaukee would certainly have cheered against the Astros since that would serve their team’s interest in hopes of making the playoffs.

That said, I still wish they would have waited until today – at the earliest – to play any games. Obviously the Astros players had some other – more important – things on their minds. I know they’re paid to play and all, but another day to recover from the hurricane would have been appropriate.

RJ, sorry, but I think you’re wrong about Selig not being about Selig. He did the same thing last year with the White Sox-Indians and scheduled them for Milwaukee. It’s not simply a coincidence that he schedules “neutral” games for his home town. Whether it helps the Brewers or not is beside the point – he will always use Milwaukee as a standby, maybe to help the economy or something, but that still does not make the site “neutral.” I’m really disappointed with this decision.

That said, I hope the Astros put this loss behind them – they were due for a loss, so why not lose big. Now they should go out there and take care of business. They’re only two out and can make it. Go ASTROS!

They should have played in Round Rock!!! The series could have been moved there and played Friday night and a double header Sunday. They would have had plenty of stros fans and the triple A franchise fans deserve to see the bigs play too. They would have packed the stadium and the facility is first class. I read recently that RR and Corpus were ranked 1 and two respectively in all the minors.

first of all, props to the big z. he would have mowed down our boys anywhere on last night’s form.

but that isn’t the point.

moving an important home game to that wrigley 2.0 love-fest was a slap in the face of the astros, who’ve done an amazing job getting back into the race. but even more, it’s a slap to the fans in the houston area, who could use all the good distractions a playoff race brings during such a difficult time.

i’m far from a conspiracy theorist, but let me get this straight. the commish has connections to milwaukee. milwaukee needs houston to lose. selig knows swill park will be full of cubs fans, making it, in essence, a home game for chicago. hmmm …that’s not even subtle.

but my biggest problem is with our illustrious owner. to accept that arrangement is beyond weak. as much as i love the stros, i will have a hard time handing over my money to mclane again. take your “be a champion” speech somewhere else please, drayton. you don’t deserve the support astros fans have given you. mark cuban, please forget about buying the cubs & make grocery boy an offer he can’t refuse for the stros. we need an owner that’s more than pep talks.

and though this post is already too long, i have to say a little something to those who’ve posted on other articles about “typical texas whining” and astro fan “excuse making.” please, cubs trolls, you’ve practically reinvented excuse making for the last century, even to point of vilifying one of your fellow fans for an honest mistake any of you could have made. now run along to your fish-fry & get ready for your next choke job. as far as whining, well …watch us rebuild our devastated region with typical texan fortitude & verve …then talk to me about whining.

First, Glad you made it through the storm OK. My family lost stuff, but that is all replacable. We are all well.

I try to be even about these things, but when the fans booed (where is spell check when you need it?) the Astros at their “home” game on their way to take the field of play before the first inning, I just lost it. Classless is way too nice to put it.

I then commenced wondering how the team was placed into this “fix” (clever choice of words, huh?). You are absolutely correct- Drayton did absolutely nothing to make us a champion today, or for that matter yesterday, or the day before. In fact, he harmed us. It’s a shame when you’ve got to fight your owner.

The Astros have enough to worry about with their families and their homes, etc, in the aftermath of the storm. To place them in the position that MLB did yesterday, with the full complicity of our owner, is unconscionable.

And yes, just like you I don’t mind being called dumb, but I do believe that Selig could have at least subconsciously have in mind how wonderful it would be to knock the Astros down a peg for a couple of games. What better way to do it than to force them to play in “Wrigley Field North”? I believe it tends to prove the maxxim that when competing theories exist as to proof of a fact or a scenario, go with the simplest, most obvious one.

Thanks for letting me vent. If I am an Astro player or coach this morning, I am furious that my management placed me in this position. I hope the players circle the wagons and use this as a positive motivation.

This anger is not on the Cubs. They played their usual good baseball last evening. But forcing our team to play them when we were not even close to being ready is simply wrong, and it turned out to be a non-competitive farce of a baseball game. We probably would have been no-hit by Mickey Mouse under those circumstances yesterday, MLB, and Drayton ought to be ashamed.

I was more upset than anything – I know they wanted a site to not risk any more weather delays – but in the Cub’s backyard. Oswalt said it himself, “we are the only team in the majors to play 83 away games.” Why not play a doubleheader on Monday at Minute Maid – the park was ready on Sunday for baseball to be played?

-it’s hard to fault drayton for feeling the hurricane wasn’t going to be as bad as it was, simply because mclane is the ultimate optimist, regardless of the situation, and if it wasn’t for his optimism, it’s unlikely the astros make the late season additions that have helped propel them back into contention (and if he would have bailed on the city and then it wasn’t that bad-like with Rita-he would have looked like a fool)

-in 2005, drayton’s buddy Selig made the astros open the roof during the world series, taking away part of their home field advantage in the biggest games in franchise history. then this weekend he sends them to milwaukee, when arlington was a completely viable option, to play in a ‘neutral’ site in the thick of a pennant race? with friends like that, who needs enemies?

I blame Drayton AND Selig. Selig is not above trying to give the Brewers a little help. I just looked at the Rangers schedule and their stadium was available and could have accommodated the series. Some Astros fans could have made trip. I wonder if Drayton and Bud were afraid of a little sweat? I have never been too enamored with Bud and am becoming less so with Drayton.

You have defended Selig before and he has done nothing but impose his ridiculous bias against the Astros beginning with mandating the roof closure during the World Series against the White Sox. Now he did this to the Astros during an historic chase making them play within an hour from Chicago against the Cubs on short notice and benefiting the Brewers which he owns also(a horrible conflict of interest). His scapegoating the blame of the entire steroids era to the players named in the Mitchell report was also chicken blank on his part. BUD SELIG IS THE LOWEST FORM OF POND SCUM OUT THERE! He needs to retire now or at least to be hung from the nearest torn up tree in hurricane ravaged Houston! What a jerk Selig is!

Question Richard. So does Bud Selig, the owner of the Brewers, get to keep all of the income they made from using the stadium for these two days? Or does he just get the benefit of the Astros playing with a clouded mind when they could have just postponed the playoffs for two days and played these games at the end of the season if they were needed? I refused to watch the game last night because I felt insulted. I can’t wait until Selig is done as commissioner.

There is no way that the Astro’s minds could have been on hitting a baseball, with the hurricane suffering of relatives and friends in Houston. Major leaque baseball should have scheduled the game for Round Rock, instead of making it a Cub home game. No wonder the players were no prepared to hit Zombrano. Shame on major league baseball, ant their jerk of a commissioner.

I’m not surprised, but am very disappointed that Drayton agreed to this travesty. Half the NL parks were dark Sunday and half of those are dark again today, so there truly were multiple options even at the last minute. Hell, even the Rangers were out of town over the weekend. From the whole draft-slotting issue to this, I just can’t understand how Drayton just blindly goes along with everything Bud Selig says, always to the Astros’ detriment.

Richard, Are you kidding me? Bud is in it for himself and “His” Brewers. Is he still part owner or something because I always see him at Brewers games? Was he at the Cubs and Astros game last night? That just shows that anything Bud/McLane will end up royally messed up somehow. What about the play-off games with the Rocket and Bud not allowing us to open the roof? This isn’t just about the Brewers, it’s about the Cubs also. Bud and all of baseball (ESPNworld) want the Cubs to win a World Series. I read your other article and I can’t believe that the Astros had to dress in the VISITING locker room. Why are we getting burned. Your report on this still didn’t clear anything up. I thought if we waited until the end of the year, we could play a Cubs team that wouldn’t want to start their starters in preparation for the playoffs? This sounds like two easy W’s. Why get scared of Bud and let him say we should move our games? Why is it just McLane’s Decision? Did he get advice from Ed and Cecil? or just interns, a high-school student, and a bum off Westheimer? We were no-hit by the Cubs! This is so embarrassing to the Astros after such a strong move to 2 games back. If we don’t make it into the play-offs it is because of this. The team didn’t loose this one, it was management.

While I enjoy bashing Selig as much as the next guy, I think the fault here lies squarely with McLane. He decided to roll the dice (despite the fact that it was clear Ike would hit Houston) and he crapped out. All this could have been avoided if McLane hadn’t been so greedy and had simply agreed to move the games before the weekend, as that would have given all parties ample time to work something out in Tampa, Minnesota or wherever.

This was the worst place to play ever. This should have been moved to Arizona, Colorado, Arlington, Tampa Bay, anywhere but the northeast.

This was not fair for the Astros, the entire satdium was cheering for the cubs. Whoever made the decided that the Astros had to play in Miller park did it for a reason, and that was to give the Brewers a chance. The Brewers stink. They have one of the best rotations in MLB, and still cant find a way to win. We will turn this around and show them why they wont make the playoff. I hate the Mets, but if the Phillies take the east I will go for anyone in that wildcard but those !@#$%^&* brewers fans.

Whether the Astros won or not the game should have never been played. MLB and the Astros upper management showed no respect for the Houston area resedents whose live were completely turned upside down this past weekend. I hardly miss an Astros game (at the game, radio, or tv) and baseball was the last thing on my mind with all the family I have in the League City area. The NFL did it right by postponing the Texans game. Drayton you just embarassed the city of Houston and all fans by allowing that game to happen last night. I hope you made the money you were hoping to make by playing those games this weekend.

I’m surprised McLame didn’t agree to Wrigley Field instead. At least we’d have been playing these “home games” in front of only Cubs fans, instead of facing both Cubs AND Brewers fans in Milwaukee. A perfect storm . . .

The site had nothing to do with the silent bats, and the lack of pitching. Professionals play where ever they have to. It is a feeble excuse, to say the were no hit because of he site, it is not like they have not played there b/4.

Get over it and keep on fighting, that is what grown ups do. Excuses are like navels, everyone has one and they are of no use what so ever.

Use this unfortunate decision to fuel the fire, Astros.. I have always had faith that you guys were a good baseball team, but i am now speechless.. you guys are the absolute “real deal” and however the season pans out, I will take comfort in knowing that I could never turn my back and give up on you guys.. because, no matter what, you guys never give up on yourselves.. GO ASTROS!!!!

I, just as much as any other sports fan, appreciate your comments on how Houston sports will “heal and unite and distract” our fellow Houstonians from Ike. I feel as though one, most important unit has been left out of this, the Dynamo. I feel, Richard, that no Houston sports writer gives the Dynamo their well deserved credit. The fact that they have won BACK TO BACK championships in the MLS should be enough credentials for them to be mentioned with the Texans and/or Astros. Although I am certain that both teams will play an integral part in the rebuilding of Houston’s morale; I am even more certain that there are thousands of people who appreciate the Dynamo’s success just as much – myself being one of them.

I’m with you. This game (and the one that starts in a half-hour) should not be played right now, at all. This was not a home game for us, as the concept of it was lost entirely. Z would NOT, that’s right, I truly believe he would not have thrown a no-hitter had this game been played ANYWHERE ELSE. It’s obvious this location favored the Cubs, and that’s that. You cannot argue with it. If we’d played in Round Rock or Arlington and won in a similar fashion the Cubs would have their britches up their butts too. This was a disaster of epic proportions. This series, in my honest belief, should have been postponed until the end of the season and played out REGARDLESS of how the pennant race shapes up. Selig (and McClane as you hint at) should be ashamed.

Ken Rosenthal is saying that Zambrano would still have no-hit the astros at Minute Maid had Ike not hit Houston.

I know about 4 million people who will give you a dollar each if you go kick Rosenthal’s a$$.

And also – please let Drayton know that I will henceforth cease watching the Astros on TV and will stop frequenting MMP and astros.com until he pulls his head out of his a$$. The Chronicle will be my sole source of Astros news.

I am from Venezuela, and I should be happy for Zambrano, but I hate the cubs so much, and I like the Astros so bad, that I hope that I Arizona wins the west so they can face really good pitching. But honestly I hate the the brewers fans 100 times more. 26000+ cheering for the cubs??????? what tha H… was that. I have never seen so many cubs fan in the same palce out of Chicago. Whoever decided that they had to play this series at miller park is a !@@#$%^^&&*(

If the Astros can’t win on the road, they have no business being in a pennant race to begin with. Of course, we’d all have preferred the series at Minute Maid. but you roll with the punches, unless you don’t.

Why Milwaukee? Sure is not for the money, sure is not for the near distance, sure is not for the fans, so why Milwaukee? The only good thing about this is if we are still on the hunt at the end of the season the cubs need to travel to Houston and trust me we are going to throw even the kithcen sink at them. Go Astros!

“Ken Rosenthal is saying that Zambrano would still have no-hit the astros at Minute Maid had Ike not hit Houston.

I know about 4 million people who will give you a dollar each if you go kick Rosenthal’s a$$.”

You can add Steven A Smith to that list of butts to kick after he showed no compassion for the Astros plight or the city of Houston on ESPN First Take this morning. His comments questioned the Astros player’s manhood and told the Astros to quit whining because they got no hit and did not deserve to complain. What a pompous jerk that Steven A Smith is and his tone was so negative towards the Astros this morning it was pathetic. No wonder his show got cancelled.

doing some serious voodoo in the Brewer’s locker room. Oh, I’m assuming we get to use the home team’s locker room. But I guess that might inconvenience the commissioner’s team. Here’s a big fat goat’s blood cocktail for every Brewer.

And stros: don’t forget to leave the voodoo altar candles burning in that Schlitz factory.

Honestly, I agree with the last people in that you cant whine about losing. MLB did not screw you over. Ike did. Now I hear all this talk about people being concerned about everything happening back in Houston, which is why they lost. I know that its important to know how your family and friends are. With that being said, the right call would have been what…to postpone the game for a later date. For the fact that they played in Milwaukee, and got no hit, now they want to say that they shouldnt have played in Milwaukee b/c that was a home game for the Cubs. Where else would you guys go play? And the fact that your owner wanted to stay in Houston and play there, now they want to blame MLB for not making a decision quick enough. The Hurricane didnt make a definite turn towards Houston until the middle of last week…and I know since I live in Louisiana. If anything, MLB should have a plan during hurricane season to be able to move game sites upon the attack of a hurricane

yes, move the series to phoenix, geniuses, where it will be a stadium full of… 20,000 cubs fans. i agree milwaukee wasn’t a “neutral” site but maybe selig/mclane should have come up with a plan C instead of waiting for Ike.

and to those who think this was a conspiracy to get the cubs into the playoffs, guess what geniuses, THE CUBS ARE BASICALLY A LOCK FOR THE PLAYOFFS ANYWAY. this game or not, they’re gonna be there in october.

if the astros can sweep the cubs in front of 40k Cubs fans at Wrigley, they should be able to beat 20k Cubs fans in Milwaukee.

What a bunch of sour grapes. Losers make excuses, champions find ways to win.

Very disappointed by the collective reaction of Houston fans, media and players. The fans I can understand, the media somewhat so since they are homers, but the players?! They are professionals getting the big bucks to win under adversity. Forget the playoffs, the players just admitted they cannot handle the pressure of playing in the opposition’s house. Also people, the players just established their excuse should they not make the play offs.

Chicago sends our best wishes to the folks in Houston, we have your best interests at heart!

As a Cub fan I would have liked to have seen these games played elsewhere, if nothing else than to avoid the negativity in blogs like this. But know this, the Cubs did not decide where the games were to be played…no need to be a hater. A majority of the fan base are good baseball fans, but we don’t make a scene just to get on TV; you’ll only get to see the knuckleheads who paint their faces and embrace curses because thats what the media wants to sell.

Just read your article about Cooper calling Selig. Selig is angry? What right does Bud Selig have to be angry? He does this to a team in a playoff race, and he dares to think no one should criticize him? I have no respect for this commissioner.

From the looks of today’s game, this should prove to be one of MLB’s biggest blunders in recent history. Selig needs to go. I’m not bitter about losing (that goes for you AZCubfan and others lke you), I’m bitter about playing “home games” in a stadium where you get booed no matter what with little to no fan representation. I’m bitter about the reprehensible approach by the MLB to even HAVE the games played right now when there are WAY more important things going on here in Houston. Baseball is a game, but GAWD DANGIT these players have family and friends here in Houston where people are dealing with REAL LIFE. Not a single one of them was in the right frame of mind to play baseball. I sincerely hope that Bud Selig resigns after this season, because this is the proverbial last straw.

For those of you out there like AZCubfan, take a step back for a minute and think about if YOUR team was put in a dre situation like this. LIKE HELL would you want them subjected to what the Houston Astros were and are being put through with this so-called “neutral stadium” bull. If you have a soul whatsoever, you will see that this is not about baseball, but about a principle. This outcome shows me that Selig and some other people out there lack those principles and are not worthy of their titles. This is just sick.

Why are Astro fans complaining so much? Didn’t the team just sweep the Cubs at Wrigley? I know the way things panned out regarding the rescheduling sucked, but in dragging their feet, the Astros lost the ability to have more say. Regardless of where the games were to be played, the Astro run would’ve stopped at the Cubs this weekend. Being in Milwaukee just made it a bit harder on the Astros, but ultimate outcome would’ve been the same.

Ryan...stuck in cardinals country (wishing he could watch just one Astros game on TV)says:

I would also like to thank all the Cubs fans out there for reminding my why I hate your baseball team so much. Your actions last night and today make me want to put on my Astros gear, steal a goat, drive the 8 hours to Chicago, pee on Busch Stadium on the way, and sacrifice said goat on the mound of your wretched, crumbling stadium. Ninety years since your last World Championship…here’s to 90 more!

sorry to say but I think that part of the decision in Uncle D’s mind was the gate. By playing in North Chicago, Drayton was all but guaranteed the max attendance possible for a “neutral” site. Home team gets the gate revenue – think about it. I hope I am reading too much into it.

one more issue is why is tejada batting 3rd? i like his competitiveness but the fact is he has an ops below 740 and hits 231 with risp. 70% of his hits are singles, which means he’s hitting a lot of balls on the ground, which has led to his ML leading 29 double plays. move down tejada in the order, like 6th. he’s not getting it done (7 hrs and 26 rbis since june 6th)

This is all on McClain … he invoked the right to try to play in Houston when NOBODY thought the weather would permit it. MLB gave him what he wanted, but did what it had to do with what it had to work with (remember, NFL games made some venues unavailable). If McClain cared about his team and wanted to give the team the chance, he should have negotiated a more ‘neutral’ site last week. Finally, professional athletes will tell you this: the only thing you can control is your own performance; professionals take the field (or court) and shut out all other distractions. In two losses to the Cubs, the Houston offense wasn’t able to do that. I admire how the Astros have come back in recent weeks (overcoming the ‘distraction’ of people giving up on them) and hope they get the Wild Card berth … but on Sunday and Monday, the Cubs were simply better, and Drayton McClain’s ignorance (or arrogance) put that performance in Milwaukee instead of possibly some other venue. Good luck ‘stros!

As a Cub fan who hasn’t lived in Chicago since infancy, I agree that the Cubs have had a tremendous advantage in having had the two games played in Milwaukee. And I’m disappointed in the behavior of the Cubs fans at those games. However, most of the fault in this situation has to lay with McLane. With his decision to keep the team in Houston and no available make up dates available, he forced MLB to make sure the games could be played, so it wasn’t unreasonable to limit alternative sites to domed/retractable roof stadiums. I think Seattle was the only available alternative, but with the Seahawks playing next door, there may have been logistical problems staffing the stadium and it might not have been possible for the Astros to have even gotten there in time to play last night. But if the Astros had left Friday, they could have played all three games. Actually, they probably could have played in an outdoor stadium like St. Louis or Atlanta and risked having one game rained out.I wonder if the best alternative would have been the Superdome. I’m sure its configuration for baseball isn’t the best, but maybe if McLane had relented earlier all three games could have been played there, too. I wonder if any non-baseball stadiums were even considered.

With the Astros’ minds not on baseball, it’s questionable if they could have won anywhere, but the alternative of playing all three games at the end of the season couldn’t have worked. While the Cubs might start a member of their rotation for the “if necessary” game, there’s no way they use one for three games, and that’s unfair to any team the Astros might be chasing in the wild card race.

Considering the situation in Houston, perhaps the correct decision would have been for the Astros to have forfeited the two games. That way the players wouldn’t have to be away from their families and everyone in the city could concentrate on the cleanup effort.

Richard, thanks for being just about the only media figure unafraid to call out Selig and Mclane on this one. This was a screw job, no doubt about it. Selig clearly had a conflict of interests here, and I think SJ above is right that McLane probably caved in the end when he realized he’d rake in more gate revenue at Milwaukee. None of these corrupt millionaires have the best interests of the Astros players or fans at heart.

A thought experiment: what if a hurricane hit Yankee stadium or Boston in the middle of the pennant or wc race just like this. Is there ANY way they would agree to give up home games and travel a ridiculous distance to play 30 minutes from a their opponent’s town? With hardly any travel for their opponent? And in the very hometown of the team they were trying to catch for a wc spot? Absolutely not. And MLB wouldn’t even consider it. It’s only with teams like Houston that have been the whipping boy for so long that they can get away with this.

Cub fans, just go the frak away. No one here even cares about your team. It’s about MLB and how they treat our team. Only Cub fans would be so insecure as to troll around on Houston blogs after a big win and whine about how Astros fans are reacting to an extremely unfair situation. Disgusting. Your team is clearly going to win the division and this is how you spend your time?

I guess it’s to be expected from a group of fans who roundly and loudly booed the Astros yesterday and today up in Milwaukee: utterly, completely classless. Wherever the Saints played last fall after Katrina they received ovations and tributes for their spirit and the afflicted city they represented. Not so for Houston, not even a mention of the circumstances, not even a drive for funds to send down, not a hint of welcome or collegiality.

Drayton did it because Milwaukee would get him more revenue than anywhere else besides playing the game in Chicago…..if they would have played it anywhere else he would have taken a bath (assuming there is no insurance for such a thing) and milwaukee provided the most beneficial option to Drayton’s bottom line

On a separate note, for all the talk out there about how Houston is a fair-weather sports town, to have sports writers and journalists jump on and off the bandwagon so quickly is kind of telling. Are the journalists that swayed by public opinion, are they promoting this attitude or are they no different than these fans?

I JUST saw that the Astros were playing at a “neutral” site and did not notice where it was until I saw brewers.com on the backstop. I couldn’t friggin believe it! That is such a crock and I’m so ticked off that is where they decided to play it. They said THAT was the only available venue? Bull honky! Half the teams are on the road so that means have the venues are available. Not to mention minor league baseball is over!

There were gonna be more Cubs fans no matter where we played but the least they could have done was keep it in the south!

Before any discussion about baseball, I want to express my sincere thoughts to the people of Galveston, Houston, and every other community affected by this horrible hurricane. I hope that everyone affected can rebound and get through this awful period.

On to baseball. Houston fans, Drayton McLane deserves your ire. While I understand his intent to play meaningful baseball games at home (for financial reasons and/or for the success of his team), he simply gambled and lost. Sometimes storms move in a different direction. That’s what he hoped would happen and sadly it didn’t. Once the storm did it’s damage, there is no way that people in Houston could be expected to attend a baseball game.

The next question is where to go. Atlanta, Cincinnati, any major league stadium would have been fine by me. Cub fans still would have shown up, not like the 23,000 last night, but they still would have been in the majority in most places. This should have been part of a contingency plan, but apparently these thoughts came too late.

It is unfair that the games were played in Milwaukee. This may affect whether or not the Astros get in the playoffs. I understand the anger and disappointment. Selig deserves some blame for not being firmer with making the Astros commit to a better contingency plan.

I don’t see a conspiracy plan, however.

Let’s be fair. The Astros got one hit in two games. The Cubs deserve a little credit.

It was grossly unfair to have the Astros travel halfway across the county to play a home game on no notice. The team got to Milwaukee at 3 pm for a 7 pm game. Throw in the fact that most of them had not had any electricity for since late Friday, it was a terrible decision to move the game. I wish Drayton had shown the testicular fortitude to refuse to play the game in Milwaukee. I would have preferred forfeiting the two games and having the Astros arrive fresh and rested in Florida for the next series. I know it is a business, but sometimes there are more important things than money. Drayton, you gave away our wildcard spot this year, and you should be ashamed.

As For AZCubfan, you are the ultimate whiner. You guys are still blaming some poor fan for not winning a World Series by interfering with a foul ball, yet you guys always conveniently forget to remember that your millionaire shortstop misplayed a custom-made double play ground ball.

just stupid. First the Stros were on fire, then they get worried about thier families from the hurricane, then you play games at Wrigley North… just plain stupid, was Turner Field not good enough, anywhere on the west coast, damn you coulda played where the Rams play, tropicana field. But playing at Wrigley North just probably ended the season and all that momentum. Out.

this just makes my blood boil! how in the hell can you expect these guys to perform at their highest level with all the crap going on back at home? Oh well maybe this can be another rallying point?!?!?!?!?!

Bud Selig was hoping for a Brewers-Cubs pennant series. He had to slow the Astros down before they wrecked his dream, there fore a non-neutral site for these two games was selected. Bud has been sidetracked by the Astros before(2004,2005,2006). He does not want it to happen again.

Going into MLB action Friday, September 12, the Astros were in third place in the wild card race, 3 games behind the Brewers.

Going into MLB action Tuesday, September 16, the Astros are in third place in the wild card race, 2.5 games behind the Brewers and the Phillies.

The Astros gained one-half game in the NL Wild Card standings, despite two hurricane-caused open dates and then a nightmare 0-2 series against the Cubs at “neutral” Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Over four days of MLB action, Friday through Monday, the Astros went 0-2 while scoring 1 run on 1 hit, and they still gained one-half game.

And one of the wild card co-leaders fired their manager.

There is a lot to be optimistic about, folks.

The worst is past, I believe. If the remaining Astros-Cubs must be played on September 29, it will be at Minute Maid Park. Not only that, the Cubs will have set their rotation for the NLDS against probably the Dodgers, so the Astros would not see Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, or Ted Lilly.

This is just one more example of a decision by Bud Selig that puts the Astros at a disadvantage. From ordering the roof at MinuteMaid open in the World Series on, I can’t think of any decision or influence by the Commissioner’s office that worked out in Houston’s favor. Follow the slotting and don’t sign any of your top draft picks… And yes, McLane is a fool to ever listen to Selig – this just proves it again.

Ok, you guys keep getting this wrong and I have to correct it. Bud “The Slug” Selig forced us to OPEN the roof in 05, not close it. We had it closed for the whole playoffs and the volume level had been ridiculously loud. Like a 747 on the runway loud. Then he came in with this bs line about wanting to have the skyline as a backdrop for the world series or something like that. If I was Drayton I would have closed the roof and broken the switch, but alas, I have not sold my soul to the commissioner.

[You have your facts wrong. The roof was left open because the Cardinals complained in the NLCS, because the Astros were using it for a competitive advantage. There's a written policy for when to have the roof open and closed, and the Astros weren't following it.--Richard]

Richard: Did the Commissioners Office mandate that these games be played in Milwaukee on Sunday and Monday, or did McLane agree to these games being played in Milwaukee on Sunday and Monday?

[There was no other available location. Every other major league facility had rain in the forecast or a scheduling conflict. It came down to three factors. One is that had Drayton McLane listened to the weather forecast, the Astros and their families could have flown to a truly neutral location Thursday night and played the games as scheduled over the weekend. Second, no other domed facility was available except perhaps Toronto. MLB staff decided getting in and out of Toronto would be tough. Third, the three games couldn't be made up after the season because there's just one day between the end of the regular season and the beginning of Fox Television's playoff coverage. I don't know whether you agree with these issues or not, but I spent an hour with Bud Selig during the game and he went over about 30 pages of notes and phone calls from his staff and the people who operate MLB's ballparks. Selig even called the Metrodome people himself, but they just couldn't get it ready for baseball after the Vikings game. One breakdown was not having anyone--Selig would have done it himself--meet with the players and go over the situation. The players felt cheated and no one told them the other side of the story. I'm not saying the other side was right, but there was another side. Selig plans to telephone Mark Loretta in the next day or two. He had a heated conversation with Cecil Cooper Monday morning. And with me.--Richard]

Competitive advantage – oh, like playing at Wrigley Field North… / I now see just what mean fans the Cubs fans are…I think they wanted to see blood drawn…It was like every Cubs pitch thrown that was not called a strike was an injustice with all the disapproving noises they made. Booing the players as they came out on the field – how immature! Booing Astro trivia and player pictures on the field screens – how immature! It was said these fans were fans who probably didn’t make it to Wrigley Field South because it is so hard to get tickets. Well, maybe they don’t know how to act as a spectator. It’s is perfectly fine to clap and yell for your team, but to be so ill-mannered to the underdog team. I did not see any behavior on the Astros’ part that would warrant such negative actions. Zambrano, who had a great pitching performance, proved to be an ungracious winner with his overdone antics and comments he made after the game.

First, please post my prevoius post, and second if they couldnt have a game in an MLB approved park then why did were Tampa Bay Rays allowed to play at Disney? Why oh why was the VERY 1st game of the season played in JAPAN?!?>!?!?!?!?!

These are not official MAJOR LEAGE BASEBALL parks. I just dont buy it. I dont. Period. I want Bud Selig fired, for conflicts of interest and favortism.

As a life-long fan of the Cubs, I was sickened by the fact that fans of my team acted so poorly. Hoever, there are good and bad in all fan bases. Let’s try to keep it in perspective a little. Try not to take offense to Carlos Zambrano. While at times he can be a dominating pitcher, he has never handled maturity very well.

Even on Baseball Tonight they were incensed and complaining that there was absolutely no possible reason why the Astros had to play these two games, that they should have refused and simply stayed home with their families. One mentioned we should file a grievance with MLB and everywhere we possibly could, but what difference would it make when Drayton is the one who sold his soul (and that of his players) to the devil himself, Bud Selig? He has to be the worst owner I have ever seen, and I though John McMullen was bad!

Folks, we got screwed over by MLB. It is over and done with. No, this would not have happened to the Yankees or Red Sox. What if Wrigley Field was rendered unplayable? Would the Cubs have to play a “home” game in St. Louis? Why did this happen. I am sorry commisioner, I don’t buy your excuses. The only “fair” way to do this rescheduling was to play the games in Houston after Sept 28. Yes they are professionals, and are paid to entertain us…but the players are still human beings. They have families and homes like the rest of us. The team was not ready to play.

I think Mr. Selig knows he messed this one up or he wouldn’t be so testy and defensive about it. Who really is in charge? I guess TV rules all. As the team that gets to play 83 road game this year, let’s hope we really become road warriors and overcome this adversity. We got screwed and the Cubs got three gifts. They will undoubtedly win the division regardless of these two games and they get a no hitter too. Cubs fans, may your streak continue for another 100 years.

thanks to john kruk for calling out MLB big-time for this absurd decision. he made the essential point — if this had been the yankees or red sox would they have forced them to uproot themselves, leave their families in a storm-stricken area and go to an unfriendly park in the middle of a pennant race? of course not. hate to see what was becoming a wonderful season end on a bad note caused by massive stupidity. hopefully the stros will get an us-against-the-mlb-world attitude and come back strong

I sent this email today to bud.selig@mlb.com I hope it gets through but of course expect no response:

Dear Mr. Selig,

I am a resident of Katy, Texas a suburb of Houston and a longtime fan of the Astros. Your decision, with the regrettable support of Drayton McClain, to make the Astros play two “Home Games” in Milwaukee the last two days was at best a bad one. In actuality it was in my opinion one of the most insensitive, selfish, idiotic, and totally defenseless decisions ever made by you or any of your predecessors.

Hurricane Ike devastated the Houston area. Over 2 million people lost power in their homes. Countless thousands were displaced and had to be evacuated. Without a doubt many of the Astro players and there families were effected too. To make these players, the day after the hurricane hit Houston, leave their families and travel all day to Milwaukee to play a night game against the Cubs was ridiculous. To call this a home game for the Astros when 99% of the crowd were Cubs fans was beyond absurd and an insult to all Houston Astro fans.

The damage is done. These two games which the Astros had virtually no chance of being competitive in are over. The outcome was a foregone conclusion the second the Astros owner and you made your ill advised decision. At the very least both of you owe the Astro players, their families, and the baseball fans of Houston a public apology for this unfair action.

Sincerely,

[Might have a little more punch if you knew how to spell Drayton McLane. Buddy is a real stickler for grammar. Leave my name out of it. I'm still hoping for that lucrative MLB TV gig although I probably didn't help myself by ripping the guy today. I prefer how Drayton handles criticism. He smiles and says, ''Do you understand baseball?''--Richard]

Richard, next, I’m really looking forward to the commish managing to get the rest of the Phillies games with the Mets in Shea. I’m sure that he can justify it with some explanation that the NY and Philly are the oldest members of the division and that it would benefit baseball is these two storied clubs just kept playing each other. And just for good measure the Cards and Astros can do the same in … uh … Guadalajara to spark interest in the game in Mexico. Geez, Selig and McLain are just idiots. Can we vote for Bill White to be the next Commish?

I moved away from Houston 20 years ago, so excuse the ignorance. But why can’t the Astrodome be used for the Astros and the Texans. Yes it’s an old building but at east it would have acually been a home game. If the Stros miss by a game or two, it’s all on Drayton and Selig… Good luck Astros…

However, I don’t see how so many people can be upset with the decision when the Cubs were nearly put in the same position. The Cubs were told to go to Wrigley Field at 2 p.m. Saturday and wait for instructions by MLB when and where they would be playing. The team did not find out until 8:45 p.m. that evening they would be playing in Milwaukee Sunday night.

Drayton McLane wanted the Cubs to fly to Houston Saturday afteroon only hours after Ike blew through Houston not knowing the conditions of the city or if the airport could be used at all.

And in the hours after the St. Louis series, the Cubs did not know whether to stay in St. Louis, go to Chicago or fly to Houston.

Would playing the two-game series in Round Rock, Arlington, Atlanta or Tampa Bay made the Astros feel any better about having to leave their homes and families behind to play baseball?

Would it have made them feel any better if the game was played in Houston, knowing that a lot of the people would not have been able to attend the game because damage to their homes and loss of power?

And if playing a MLB game at a MLB stadium and not really being the “home team” is the worst thing that can happen to the Astros and their fans, well, I guess it could be worse.

It’s over. Whine all you/we want, but the two games are in the books and there’s nothing that can be done about it. So let’s keep our eye on the prize and do what we can, which is to focus on the games left to play.

Cub fans? Not their fault, people. Sure, there’s an idiot of two posting on the blog, but that’s not representative of the bulk of them. They’re jazzed about their team and MLB sent the Astros to the lions den for them. Get over it.

Drayton and Bud? What – you’re surprised that they did something asinine? Don’t let it beat you twice by dwelling on it. Swallow hard and keep fighting.

We’re 2.5 games out of the Wild Card with 13 left. The Brewers are headed to Wrigley – the real one, not Wrigley North, where Cub beer stains the carpet. The Phillies are headed to “Nothing To Lose” Atlanta. Hopefully the Braves and Cubs will help us, but the only thing we can control is to beat the Marlins and Pirates like a pinata this week. We need 5 wins, maybe all 6. It starts tomorrow.

Our Astros having to play in Milwaukee proves that we were under-represented at the negotiations for a venue site. Or were we represented at all?

In any case, making our guys play in Milwaukee was STUPID, IRRESPONSIBLE, DISGUSTING, CLASSLESS, INANE, RIDICULOUS, AND DID I MENTION DISGUSTING!!!

Bud Selig is a joke. Always has been and always will be.

Did someone forget to tell Bud that the Rangers were out of town? Did someone forget to tell Bud that Milwaukee is only 90 minutes from Chicago? Did someone forget to tell Bud that he could have picked ANYOTHER city (other than Chicago) and perhaps 99.9% of those in attendance would not have been Cubs fans?

Way to go AGAIN Bud.

The people of Houston will band together and recover from Ike. Ike gave the folks of Houston a better chance at survival than Selig gave the Stros against the Cubs.

You’re an idiot. If Cubs fans cared as much about humanity as they pretend they do, they would not have booed the Astros when they took the field. It’s one thing to support your guy when they’re doing well, it’s completely classless to boo a group of guys forced to play a kid’s game two days after being stricken by a natural disaster. I applaud the Astros players for handling the situation with such grace, it makes me proud to cheer for this team.

And I’d rather blame Bud for my team’s misfortune than blame a billy goat.

Poor fragile Astro guys, they can’t suffer IKE with 2 days off and come back to work on Monday like the rest of us have done. Goodness, what if they were air flight controllers, pilots, or business men, firemen, police, etc. – would they under-perform so badly in those jobs too?? Aren’t we fortunate they are only ball players and can be fragile without endangering our lives! NOT McLean’s fault he has such a bunch of wimps on his team!!

Well, I did not hear the ovation the team got when they took the diamond for Sunday’s game. And if the fans did or did not boo, so what? Why is it important? I am pretty sure most of the fans in the stand during the series have compassion for their fellow man.

Sure, I feel bad that those players had to pick up and leave their homes and families, but if I was an Astros fan, I would be upset with the team. They did not give any effort at all. Granted it was not a home game, but those players laid down for the Cubs.

Not the Astros I remember for so many years. I understand they were worried about the affects of the hurricane and having to play at Miller Park, but they should have put up a better fight. They owed it to the Astros fans who believed in the team all year. That is what champions do. They have to deal with adversity. Houston did anything but. You know, Jackie Robinson was booed almost all season by not only the road fans, but the fans in Brooklyn. But he played through it when people counted him out.

That is what the Astros should have done. Stuff we can’t control, bad stuff, happens and we have to deal with it. That is life. I always had much respect for the Astros and their fans. However, to say you wish the Cubs do not win a World Series because your team gave up, is wrong.

I actually felt bad for Houston when they lost in the World Series to the White Sox. Not because I don’t like the Sox, but because I felt bad for Biggio and Bagwell. Those guys were class acts, man and deserved a ring.

I made it to mondays game. 100% CUB fans. 15400,screaming fans who many would not have had this CHANCE,cept for good ole Drayton Mclane. THANK YOU THANK YOU DRAYTON. 1 sign read 30k cub fans thank ike and mr. mclane. oh well,always next year,ENJOY THE CURSE EH!!!!!

The roof at miller park was wide open MONDAY,should have been a doubleheader monday,no problems. BUT the money hit the table. Did you think I was lying about “the fix is in”. Say hello to Pres. B. Obama,MONEY HITS THE TABLE, the fix is in!!!!Chicago Combine is more corrupt than even big oil!!!!You guys got shafted,drilled,plugged and put away by Bud and Drayton.

The whining here is incredible. It’s unfortunate that the weather forced this situation. You can’t seriously say it was a conspiracy by Selig? When it became obvious that Houston was in the direct path of Ike, the decision should have been made to move the series to another city for the weekend. All 3 games could have been played in Cincinnati, Tampa, etc. Instead the owner held out hope that some games could be played in Houston. Once the decision was put off until Saturday evening Milwaukee became the only real alternative because of scheduling conflicts and weather (roof at Miller Park).

I understand that the players’ families and homes came into the decision to stay in Houston Fri. and Sat., but MLB was not going to put this series off until after the season, what happens if either team has another rainout in the next two weeks?

Finally, it’s understandable that the players were upset. It wasn’t a good situation. But you have to step up and play when they tell you to play. It’s unfair to not give Zambrano credit for his no-hitter. Only two balls left the infield, 28 guys came to the plate, and he was hitting 98-99 mph on the gun. That was a solid pitching performance. And he was going against Randy Wolf, who has been solid. If the Astros are for real they will show it in the next two weeks. If they don’t make it it will be because the didn’t play well enough for 6 months, not because they played two games in Milwaukee and got spanked.

STOP Whining. I live in South Florida where we know about hurricanes and Wild Card Champs. I was at 2 games when the Marlins hosted the Cubs and I was also there Wednesday when the Astros came to town. It doesn’t seem to matter where the Cubs play, their fans follow the team. 70% of the crowd here in Florida were Cub fans. This last week I saw only a handful of Houston fans and they were not cheering for their team at all. Maybe the games should have been cancelled altogether but even if the Astros won one of those games it wouldn’t have changed their chances much.